Q:
How popular is scholastic chess?A: Scholastic chess has grown enormously in the past several years.
While exact figures of how many school chess programs exist and how many
students are playing, one indication might be the number of students who
participate in national scholastic tournaments. The SuperNationals V (the
combination of the three spring national tournaments into one? held every four
years) attracted over 5300 players from Kindergarten through the 12th grade
from all over the United States. The largest scholastic tournament ever held!

Q:
How can I start a scholastic program at my school?A: You can help start a chess program in several ways. You may approach
the school administration or an interested teacher. You might even agree to
serve as a volunteer or a coach. Enlisting school, parent, and community
support is important to keep the program going. For more information on
starting a scholastic chess program in your area, contact the USCF office at:
U.S. Chess, P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557 for the information packet. You
can also call our office at: 931-787-1234, ext. 136, and speak with Susan Kantor.

Q:
Is there research available that shows the value of chess in education?A: Yes! You can the list of studies available from our website research articles listing after which we can
email you the studies on a CD.

Q:
Where can I find the rules of chess?A: For a simple explanation of the game and other articles for beginning
players, please visit our “New to Chess?” category on our homepage at
uschess.org. You will also find other useful information in the “Forms” section
located behind our “Activities & Interests” category. In addition, the
latest edition of The Official Rules of Chess can be purchased from USCFSales
from their Online chess store. These rules explain not only how the
pieces move and other aspects of the game itself, but they cover the rules
which govern USCF-rated tournaments. You can also call USCFSales at: 1-800-388-KING
(5464) or click on “Shop” at uschess.org.

Q:
Where can I find the chess sets, boards, and chess clocks?A: For a catalog of chess equipment, you can visit USCFSales.com and
request one from their website. You can find a link to USCFSales from our
homepage at uschess.org, “Shop”.

Q:
What national scholastic events are offered each year?A: The USCF sponsors five major scholastic tournaments? 3 in the spring
and 2 in the fall. The three spring competitions include the National
Elementary (K-6), the National Junior High (K-9), and the National High School
(K-12) tournaments. The National K-12/Collegiate tournament is usually held in
the Fall. Regulations governing these events can be found in our
“Scholastic/Colleges” section of our website.

Q:
Where can I go in my area to play chess?A: USCF provides listings of chess clubs for all regions of the United
States, free. Please check our Club directory. This section is
offered within our “Clubs & Tournaments” category.

Q:
After I become a USCF member and play in a USCF rated event, will I get a chess
rating? A: Yes. The organizer of the event will send the results to USCF and a
rating will be calculated. You can also view your rating and history in the
Players & Ratings category located on our homepage at uschess.org.